Fuel-reserve-maintaining device



Dea 29, 1925. 1,567,412

J. W. BLACK FUEL RESERVE MAINTAINNG DEVICE Filed May l2, 1924 Patented Dec. 29, 1925.

UNITED STATES JOE W. BLACK, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FUEL-RESERVE-MAINTINING DEVICE.

Application led May 12, 1924;

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Jon W. BLACK, a citizen.` of the United States, residing at 549 l.ll/.Test Washington Street, Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fuel-Reserve-Maintaining Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fuel reserve maintaining devices'and the like and is particularly intended for maintaining a fuel reserve in the fuel tanks of automobiles having gravity feed systems.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a device which can be readily applied to an existing automobile having a gravity feed system and which will maintain afuel reserve in the tank, and which will indicate, as by causing the engine to stop, when the fuel in the tank has reached a predetermined low level.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which can be readily made by the present die casting methods. This and other objects are accomplished by this invention, which is fully described .in the following specifica-tion and shown 1n the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view showing its relation to the automobile fuel tank, and

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the device.

The embodiment illustrated comprises the casting 10 having a vertical tubular portion 11 therein which is restricted at the lower end 12. The passage 13 joins the tubular portion just above the restricted end 12 and this connects through the pipe 14 with the bottom of the fuel tank 15, preferably through a sediment trap 16. The connec tions between these various parts are preferably made by means of the well-known threaded connections which need no description. A passage 17 connects with the lower end of the tubular portion 11 below the restricted end, and this leads to the carburetor (not shown) through the pipe 18.

A pipe 19 is fitted into the upper part of the tubular portion 11 and is secured therein by means of the threaded packing gland 20.

A tube 21 is loosely fitted in the pipe 19 and has a rounded lower end which bears upon the conical or restricted seat 12 so that when seated thereon, as shown, the tube closes the opening between the passages 13 and 17. An opening 22, however, is formed Serial No. 712,573.

in the side of the tube 21 at such a height as normally to retain some of the fuel within the tank 15, as illustrated in Fig.

In operation, the tube 21 is forced down as illustrated, so that liquid fuel in fiowing from the tank to the carburetor will flouv through the pipe 14, the passage 13, up along the outside of the tube 21, through the hole 22 and down through the center of this tube and out through the passage 17 to the carburetor. As the automobile is operated the level of the fuel in the tank 15 will drop until it is at the height of the hole 23, when the flow of fuel to the carburetor will cease and the stoppage of the engine will apprise the driver of the fact that his fuel is running low. He will then grasp the knob 23 and raise the tube 21 until the knob 23 comes under the end of the spring 24, which will then retain the tube in its raised position. Fuel will then flow from the passage 13 through the tapered portion 12 to the passage 17, sufficient fuel having been thus retained in the tank 15 to insure the car reaching the nearest point where a new supply of fuel may be obtained. As soon as more fuel is put into the tank the tube 21 is lowered to again close the tapered portion 12, when fuel flowing from the tank to the carburetor again flows through the opening 22. Y

This device is preferably so placed on the car that the pipe 19 extends through the floor boards and immediately in front of the dash, so that in case the engine shows signs of slowing upf-thereby indicating a low fuel level,-the operator can grasp the knob 23 and by raising it immediately prevent the engine from stopping. This is particularly useful when driving up a very steep hill, as then the raising of the front end of the automobile may so raise the opening 28, which is placed some distance in front of the tank, as to prevent fuel from owing to the carburetor even though there is a considerable supply left in the tank.

The air vent between the pipe 19 and the open-ended tube 21 itself prevents fuel from siphoning over to the carburetor.

lVhile I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes therefore in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all nov elty inherent in my invention as broadly as possible in vievv of the prior art.

I claim:

l. A fuel reserve maintaining device cornprising a body having a vertical tubular portion restricted at its lower end, a passage connecting With said tubular portion on each side of said restricted end, a tube movable to close said restricted end, and a high level hole in said-tube connecting said passages when the restricted end is thus closed by the tube.

2. A fuel reserve maintaining device comprising a body having a vertical tubular portion restricted at its lower end, a passage connecting with said tubular portion on each side of said restricted end, a tube movable to close said restricted end, a high level hole in said tube connectingsaid passages when the restricted end is thus closed bv the tube, and a spring adapted to snap over a shoulder on said tube to hold the tube in the raised position.

JOE W. BLACK. 

